New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-26
a BICYCLE TOURIST.
THE NEWEST THING in TRAVEL.

STEVENS With over one hundred illustrations $40
PIP. SAT. Charles Scribners sons
The main facts of Mr.. Stevens, bicycle expedition
round the world have been made Known TO the
readers of Outing through the travellers letters but
the general public probably have so fragmentary
an idea of what befell him on the way that the
detailed narrative of which this handsome volume
constitutes the first lnstalment will be welcomed
1t is thoroughly worth reading, not only because 1t
describes scenes witnessed by no previous travel
Ter; not only because it presents quite novel views
of many things, particularly in the ORIENT; but
because it is written in natural, pleasant, UMPIRE
tentious and ,ight-handed manner. and exhiJlts
shrewd observation, sound travelling philosophy
and an equablo temper on the part of the author.
The discomfort to which he was often exposed
might have tried any ones patience. but he treats
all the un tnesses he encounters aslnevtabe'
and dismsses them easily with little humorous
p,ant OF mild sarcasm. Starting from San fran-
cisco Mr. Stevens made his way across the conIi-
nent to Ncw-York. experiencing some small advent
ures and many vici.situdes of climate on the way.
Sometimes no was hot sometimes he was colo
sometimes he found it as difficult to procure food
as though he had been in Asia Minor or Persia.
From New York he went to England where be had
a most hosp, table reception and was made much
Of Then he passed over to France and so made his
way in a somewhat leisurely fashion to Germany,
Austria, Hungary. Turkey, and finally to Ieheran,
where the end of this volume leaves hin.
OF course his peculiar mode of travelling at
tracted much attention. All through the moro CIVIL
lied parts of Europe the press neralded his ad-
vance and so caused a lookout for him to be kept.
But tho general want of familiarity with bicycles
made sort of peripatetic miracle of him for the
peasantry, who never ceased from the hall-super-
stitlous amazement into which the strange spec
tacle of nan mounted on great wheel threw
them. Mr.. Stevens was poorly equipped IN one re-
spect for so extended an expedition for he could
speak no language but English. This deficiency in
eyitaby caused him much embarrassment. and at
various times rendered him so dependent upon
strangers that if they had been disposed it would
have been easy for them to got him into serious
trouble But his confidence in the average honesty
and good intentions of mankind was justified by
the outcome Nowhere was he taken undue adj
vantage of. OF course people who cheat habtually
and systematically in selling goods did not refrain
from their custom on his behalf, but Mt least thcy
did not try to cheat hin more than others, or De-
cause he was a helpless stranger Indeed more than
once when some peculiarly avaricious Vender tired
TO impose on him to the extent of two or three
farthings the neighbors instantly detected and
exposed the attempted extortion, and loaded tho
ling him to refund. The freedom and security n
which the author travelled through those Oriental
countries which are known to be infested with law
less nomad tribes and with organized bands oil
brigands Is indeed uprising. He had no protec-
ton but small sized Smith e. Wesson revolver
which he only procured at Constantlnop.e. having
previously carried a bulldog pistol with which ne
could scarcely hit a arm door at ten PAGES. Yet LIE
never found it necessary to fire po.nt-blank at
man, and only discharged the weapon once DC
tween Constantinople and Teheran, and that was a
shot fred over the heads Of some country louis who
were following and annoying him. In the rural
districts of Persia he was occasionally pelted by
village boys but so he might have been IN several
parts either of the United States or Great Britain,
"hoodlamism not being by any means confined to
Asiatc countries where in truth 1t is far less COM
mon than among what In our beautiful humility
we call the higher civilizations"
In passing through Asia Minor Mr.. Stevens was
exposed to the goOd-humored but oppressive curl
osty of the inhabitants Whenever lie arrived ut
a'village the crowd began 'exhOrting him to bin y
(ride) ter their amusement, ana no matter how
fatigued he M ght be he generally had to crafty
them before he could obtain leisure to eat his sup
per At the mehands native taverns where he
lodged little or no privacy was possible and he
adopted the practice of engaging some stalwart
native to stand guard over the bicycle. which was
the cynosure of all eyes, and If not watched con-
stantly would have been pulled to pieces by the
enthusiastic crowds. He was warned against tho
Circassans and the Koords in turn. as being likely
to seize the first opportunity to rob him. He did
have slight difference with a couple OF Koords,
who while supposng him unarmed thOpght their
swords sufficient argument for the surrender of
his belongings. but when he produced the revolver
they instantly saw the error of that conclusion
and FASTENED to remove themselves from his path.
The Circassians never troubled him at all, and as
for the ferce-.ooking Turks, with their belts full
of weapons he reached the conclusion that as q
rule they are a very mild and peaceable folk and
seeing that his machine frequently frightened their
horses and sometimes procured both animals and
riders heavy falls the fact that they resented
these accidents justes the belief In their mildness.
He was more annoyed by large band of dogs
kept in the Angora goat region to tend the herds,
for these faithful guardians translated their aston
ishment at the bicycle into uncomfortable anger,
which resulted IN furious PUSHES upon the rider,
and then he had to dismouut. use the machine as
shield and try to pick up stones to drive the dogs
of with. lie dared not shoot them, lest their own
ers should resent the act, and it is a wonder and
speaks highly for his alertness, that he escaped
being bitten. The following sketch Of his arrival
at an Asiatio village at night, and how be Jared,
will serve for q wider tract of countryi
Trundling through the town in quest of khan.
am soon surrounded by clanorous crowd and
passing the house or Office of the mudir OF headman
OF the place, that person salies forth. and. after
ascertaining the cause of the cowmoton. begs me
to favor the crowd and himself by riding round .
vacant piece OF ground hard By. After this per-
Torrance. a Iespectable-looking man heckons me TO
follow him, an he takes not to his own house
to be his guest, for Geiyeb Is too near Europe for
this sort OF thing-to khan kept by Greek with
a m ete in eye. where a " shake down" on the
floor q cup of coffee glass of vshner is obtain
tinghouse There is no separate kitchen in this
latter establishment as in the one at Isnidt; one
room answers COR cooking eating, nargiieh smok-
ing. cofee-spping. and gossiping and while l am
eating. curious crowd watches my every move
ment with intense interest Here, as at lsmidt. |
am requested TO examine for myself the contents Of
NJ n aov satx 4.